Time to put a spring in your step

As we come out of winter and head into spring, it is a good idea to review our fitness regime, or for those emerging from hibernation to restart or initiate a new routine.

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It is often difficult to maintain our fitness activities during the winter due to the colder and wetter weather, the shorter days and increased prevalence of seasonal illnesses. We should not beat ourselves up for these lapses, as this is part of the natural cycle of the seasons and life. However, spring is definitely the time for new beginnings and new growth; it is a time when we are generally more open and enthusiastic for embracing challenges for the year ahead and sowing the necessary seeds to begin the cycle of rebirth and regeneration.

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I’d suggest that we each look at our calendars at a standard week and mark all those appointments and commitments that are locked in. This will show us where there are gaps in our regular schedule that we can utilise for our fitness activities. We should then write a list of all the physical activities that we enjoy or which make us feel good; these are not necessarily the same thing. For example, I do not overly enjoy running, but once I’ve been for a run I feel great for the rest of the day.

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We can then start slotting these activities into the gaps available in the week. Here’s a few tips that help me in this process:

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1. Don’t fill every spare gap. Good intentions are great, but the reality is that we also need some downtime to rest, recover and enjoy the fruits of our labours.

2. If there are activities that we want to get better at, we need to schedule these in for two, preferably three times a week.

3. If we want to maintain our current level of achievement, we should schedule these activities for one to two times a week.

4. If we can co-ordinate an activity with a buddy, then it will make it more sociable, more enjoyable and decrease the likelihood that we will take a rain check.

5. Routine is everything. When we lock activities in to specific days and times, there will be far less conscious effort involved.

 

Preparation helps support these endeavours. When we have our runners and exercise gear ready the night before, it allows us to make the best use of our allocated time and reduces the chance we will find excuses not to start.

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If there are classes in which we are thinking of enrolling, now is a good time to find those that suit us.

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As for our Pilates—which, obviously, should remain a high priority for us all—I recommend that we keep it up, and consider taking it back up for those of us who have let it lapse. I probably don’t need to remind you of the multiple benefits that Pilates has to offer. It keeps our moving parts well oiled. It strengthens muscles that commonly get weak. It releases and stretches muscles that commonly get tight. It wakes up our stabilising muscles, which support us against gravity and protect our joints. It challenges our balance and coordination. It safeguards us from injury and optimises the repair process after injury. And it helps us relax and stay in touch with our bodies.

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Pilates can be done daily. One session a week is just a basic maintenance dose, so consider adding a second or third session each week. This can be accomplished through attending another physical class or a zoom class, the commitment to doing an online class, or through replicating our favourite exercises we have learned in class. Mat Pilates allows us to easily learn an exercise and perform it whenever and wherever we can incorporate it into our lives.

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